descended; descending; descends
1
: to pass from a higher place or level to a lower one
descended from the platform
2
: to pass in discussion from what is logically prior or more comprehensive
descends from the general to the specific
3
a
: to originate or come from an ancestral stock or source : derive
descends from an old merchant family
b
: to pass by inheritance
a desk that has descended in the family
c
: to pass by transmission
songs descended from old ballads
4
a
: to incline, lead, or extend downward
the road descends to the river
b
physiology
: to conduct nerve impulses away from the brain
… lesions that interrupt the descending pathways from the cortex or brain stem produce weakness in voluntary movements …—
Claude Ghez and John Krakauer
Claude Ghez and John Krakauer5
a
: to swoop or pounce down (as in a sudden attack)
a hawk descending upon its prey
b
: to appear suddenly and often disconcertingly as if from above
reporters descended on the candidate
6
: to proceed in a sequence or gradation from higher to lower or from more remote to nearer or more recent
Their scores were listed in descending order.
7
a
: to lower oneself in status or dignity : stoop
b
: to worsen and sink in condition or estimation
He descended into a deep depression.
descended to poverty
descend into chaos
c
: to pass from higher to lower musical notes
The harmony descends chromatically.
1
: to pass, move, or climb down or down along
descending the staircase
2
: to extend down along
a narrow scar descended her arm
Examples of descend in a Sentence
Wait for the elevator to descend.
The workers descended into the hole.
A herd of goats descended into the valley.
The airplane will descend to a lower altitude soon.
Descending the mountain was even more dangerous than climbing it.
The children descended the staircase silently.
The path descends to the river.
The stairs descended into the tunnel.
Recent Examples on the Web
Visitors descend daily onto the Hitsville grounds, where a new public plaza is part of the museum's ongoing $65 million expansion.
—Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 20 Apr. 2024
Eight years ago, the last time the Republican National Convention was held in-person, Cleveland hosted the more than 40,000 delegates, politicians, journalists and others who descended on the city for the quadrennial event.
—Sarah Volpenhein, Journal Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2024
The melody started in a descending pattern, but took a sharp ascent midway through the chorus.
—Tom Roland, Billboard, 17 Apr. 2024
Perhaps the most striking development in the region is the growing push by some Arab countries to be part of forging diplomatic solutions to avoid having the region descend into a broader war.
—Vivian Nereim, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2024
As a child Carr lived in an environment where people couldn’t be trusted, with wild parties and everyday life descending into violence.
—Chris Vognar, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2024
Playing no less than four roles, Downey stands in for multiple ugly Americans, but the series descends into a narrative quagmire and, despite powerful moments, can’t consistently pull itself out.
—Brian Lowry, CNN, 14 Apr. 2024
With these militarized factions attacking one another relentlessly, the entire country has descended into poverty and lawlessness, and Lee has seen and photographed it all.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2024
On the precipice of finally descending into madness, Roger asks The Ghoul for help.
—EW.com, 11 Apr. 2024
Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 20 Apr. 2024
Eight years ago, the last time the Republican National Convention was held in-person, Cleveland hosted the more than 40,000 delegates, politicians, journalists and others who descended on the city for the quadrennial event.
—Sarah Volpenhein, Journal Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2024
The melody started in a descending pattern, but took a sharp ascent midway through the chorus.
—Tom Roland, Billboard, 17 Apr. 2024
Perhaps the most striking development in the region is the growing push by some Arab countries to be part of forging diplomatic solutions to avoid having the region descend into a broader war.
—Vivian Nereim, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2024
As a child Carr lived in an environment where people couldn’t be trusted, with wild parties and everyday life descending into violence.
—Chris Vognar, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2024
Playing no less than four roles, Downey stands in for multiple ugly Americans, but the series descends into a narrative quagmire and, despite powerful moments, can’t consistently pull itself out.
—Brian Lowry, CNN, 14 Apr. 2024
With these militarized factions attacking one another relentlessly, the entire country has descended into poverty and lawlessness, and Lee has seen and photographed it all.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2024
On the precipice of finally descending into madness, Roger asks The Ghoul for help.
—EW.com, 11 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'descend.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near descend
Cite this Entry
“Descend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/descend. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
descend
verb
de·scend
di-ˈsend 
1
: to pass from a higher to a lower place or level
2
a
: to originate or come down from a source : derive
descended from an ancient family
b
: to be handed down to an heir or from an earlier time
the mansion descended to a son
a custom descended from ancient times
3
a
: to incline, lead, or extend downward
the road descends to the river
b
: to pass, move, or climb down or down along
4
: to make a sudden attack by or as if by swooping down
5
: to sink in status, dignity, or condition
Medical Definition
descend
intransitive verb
de·scend
di-ˈsend
: to pass from a higher place or level to a lower one
normally the testicle descends into the scrotum between the seventh and ninth month in utero—Therapeutic Notes
Therapeutic NotesLegal Definition
descend
intransitive verb
de·scend
di-ˈsend
: to pass by inheritance
descendibility
noun
-ˌsen-də-ˈbi-lə-tē
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